I'm a pilot for a Major US Airline and I have to say I agree with how this Captain handled this 100%. As the Captain you and you alone bear the finally responsibility for the safety of your passengers and crew. Not ATC, not the FAA and not the TSA or any other organization. If there is a threat to the aircraft then the full details of that threat need to be provided to the Captain the minute they are known.

The way the authorities outside the aircraft handled this incident should result in some people being fired. But it won't because ever since 9/11 (and probably before) the federal authorities have refused to recognize that flight crews are in fact partners in security and have largely handled us based on the mushroom theory.

Didn't it ever occur to to the captain that VHF frequencies are not encrypted and that anyone with a scanner can listen? The reason she gave him a phone number is so he could get the information he needed and then he still demanded the info over the frequency.

Didn't it ever occur to to the captain that VHF frequencies are not encrypted and that anyone with a scanner can listen? The reason she gave him a phone number is so he could get the information he needed and then he still demanded the info over the frequency.

Even telling the pilot that there is a "safety of flight issue" or something like that would have probably been much better than saying nothing at all. There could be restrictions on cell phone use in the cockpit with which the pilots would have to comply.

I'm honestly a little shocked that there are not procedures in place that inform ATC, pilots, and emergency personnel about terrorist activity in a manner that keeps them all on the same page. Being in the pilot's seat, I would be equally as shocked at the situation as that guy was. I don't blame the controller for not being able to relay information to the pilot, but by now you'd think the FAA would have developed some procedures for this type of incident.

The controller was relaying 3rd hand information to the pilot whilst her supervisor was on the phone gaining the information for her to pass onto the pilot and further instructions for the situation whilst the captain was demanding to know what was going on, what else is the poor girl to do

Im not sure how many times she told him that she didnt know what was going on and even suggested he call the company, Not really sure there was anything else the controller could of done considering the Sup was still on the phone and all she was told was to get the aircraft to go there, park here and wait whilst more info is coming through